Construction is difficult

Within the hallways of Senba Highschool, the murmerings and gossip of students filled the walls.

"Did you hear? The CEO of ME corps got jailed."

"I heard he embezzled money or something."

"I heard he was exposed for fraud, but either way he got what he deserved."

"Quiet! Isn't that his daughter? What if she hears us?!"

"Who the fuck cares? I bet she's a bitch like her bastard of a father."

Raiden Mei continued her brisque walk through the hallway, her face stoic and her back straight as she was raised with the restraint of a noble lady from birth.

"Look at her, thinking she's better than us after what happened."

"I know right, what a bitch. I bet she still thinks she's some kind of queen."

It had been a week since her father had been convicted. The classmates who originally surrounded her suddenly kept their distance and looked at her with cold eyes. Even her 'closest' friends had left her, whether it be from not wanting to be associated with her or to avoid discrimination she didn't know.

She felt lost after experiencing various forms of discrimination and hate. Attempting to muster all kinds of human feelings, Mei learned to be more sensitive and delicate to others around her. She could see the sneers and derision present on most people's faces. She could notice the hesitance and fear of others when they didn't dare to look her in the eyes out of guilt. She eventually ended up quitting all after-school clubs and activities.

Raising walls around her heart, she had resolved herself to find out what happened to her father before the incident. Yet there were times where she was unable to keep the tears from building up in the corner of her eyes. This misery eventually lead to hate towards the world as no one would seem to give her a break.

"They should lock her up to-HIIII!" A girl who was less than quietly talking shit squealed in fright when the hallway darkened all of a sudden.

Raiden Mei noticed the strange gasp and silence that came after. She looked around as the students remained frozen in place, too afraid to breathe loudly. She turned her gaze towards the source. It was a little hard to see as there always seemed to be a dark aura of gloom following him, but she recognized him as one of her classmates. He never talked to others, and always seemed like he would attack anyone who came near him.

Wave never noticed it, but in his depression he had continued to leak out an aura of gloom and doom. He continued making his way down the hall as everyone was too afraid to even look at him. However Raiden Mei looked directly into his eyes again, and in them she saw nothing. There was no condescension, hate, fear, ulterior motives. It was honestly a breath of fresh air for her.

Unconsciously she found herself taking a moment to relax as if it was a respite from the hate and discrimination. Ultimately the boy broke off eye contact when he noticed her and continued to walk towards the roof.

"Ahhh, I thought I was gonna die." A student finally let out a breath he was holding in.

"Seriously that was scary!" Another student shivered in goosebumps.

Murmerings broke out again, but this time it wasn't about her. Mei looked towards the direction the gray haired boy left to.

'Wave Aversis.' She remembered his name from the day he introduced himself to the class.

She began walking towards his direction.

∞

1 WEEK LATER

Well I've done it, after hustling 40,000 yen off a little girl. I have brought some upgrades to this roof which is now my new home. Bronya, your sacrifices will not be forgotten. Even when this doomed time line ends I shall remember you in my heart.

Besides a cheap mattress I bought myself some wood, nails, a hammer and a power-saw. That's right, I'm gonna make myself a small shed on this roof! It will be glorious!

2 Hours later

"This did not turn out the way I imagined." I said out loud, staring at the failure of an architectural monstrosity before me. It was supposed to be a square, yet it looks more like a rhombus. I knew I should have bought a ruler for measurement. The roof kind of collapsed on me so I just put a tarp on it. As for the door, yeah I forgot to put one in so it's just walls... maybe I should have gotten someone else to help with this. But then again it's not like I know anyone who would help me with this, times like these makes me realize how much I took Onyx for granted.

*RUMBLE sfx* the familiar sound of my stomach growling.

Some would wonder why I bought a bunch of stuff for a small shed instead of food? Well I did buy food! Seeds! Many kinds of seeds like peas, potatoes, beans, cabbages etc.

I walked over to my clay pots of dirt that I left near the railing. I'm a genius! Who needs to pay for food, that's just a waste of money! I'll just grow all my crap. With the rest of my funds, I bought a bunch of seeds, dirt, clay pots and a watering can. I'll never be hungry again!

Pouring some water into them, I adjusted them towards the sunlight. "Now to wait." I sat down in front of the pots in anticipation.

15 MINUTES LATER

"I'M A FOOL!" I cried out, slamming my fist into the ground.

I don't know anything about growing crops! Even if I did, I can't just wait for the food when I'm hungry now!

*RUMBLE sfx*

"Damn you stomach, why do you get hungry when I don't need food to survive!?" I cursed out indignantly before slumping down.

Damn, I'm out of money now. Maybe I could scam Bronya for some more, but she hasn't been showing up at the arcade much lately. 'Wonder if she got in trouble for losing so much money.' I thought as I did scam nearly 400 USD from her.

∞

IN SOME OTHER LOCATION

"What do you mean you need more money!?" A busty lady named Cocolia asked incredulously as she just gave her 40,000 yen yesterday.

"Sorry Matushka, the Bronya has been robbed." Instead of looking away in shame, the twintailed girl responded in monotone. At some point she found it illogical to lose against Wave so many times when he was clearly a newbie. Eventually she figured that she was being cheated, yet she still didn't like the idea of losing.

"What kind of little shit dares to steal from my kid!?" The blonde lady got up with fire in her eyes.

∞

BACK ON THE ROOF

'Eh, it's not like it'll be my problem anyway.' Wave shrugged, discarding the thought.

*SNAP sfx*

He swerved his head towards the direction of the sound. Besides the usual scenery, there was nothing there. 'Man this is some weird shit, this might sound crazy but lately I feel like I'm being watched.' he thought to himself

His instincts are telling him that he was being watched, and his father always told him to trust his instincts. This looming feeling of being watched had been present at most parts of the days for him.

From when he was in class.

The scene changed to Wave staring out the window in boredom as the teacher continued her lecture. He felt an intense gaze on him yet when he looked out towards the class, no one was looking at him as usual. He felt a bit confused.

To when he migrated the halls.

The scene changed to Wave moving through the hallway in dead silence as people were of course too afraid to talk around him as usual. However he felt the same gaze again and turned around, he coulda swore he saw something move around the corner. In the end he shrugged and continued his walk.

And even when he went out to the city.

The scene changed to Wave purchasing some supplies for his roof. As he just scammed Bronya of a lot of money, he was in a good mood and thus wasn't radiating an aura of doom and gloom like usual.

"Excuse me sir but... is she with you?" The cashier asked pointing somewhere behind him.

"Who?" Wave blinked as he turned to the direction the cashier pointed towards.

No one was there.

Honestly the only time he didn't feel watched was when he entered the restroom.

*GRUMBLE sfx* Wave flinched at the growling of my stomach

"Well whatever, gotta deal with hunger first." He decided with a sigh.

He was unsure of how long it'll take for the plants to grow, but he definitely wasn't able to wait that long. He considered going back to the original plan of robbing convenience stores. 'Damn it I should have bought some instant noodles at least before wasting it all.' he cursed with regret.

"Why is getting food so damn hard!" He yelled out loud with his hands in the air.

"Sigh, maybe it's time to-AHHAAAA!" He turned around at high speeds in time to see a girl's head sticking out of the side of a wall.

The girl with dark purple hair was startled before turning around to run to the door. however when she turned around, her indigo eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as Wave was somehow already blocking the exit.

"Going somewhere?" Wave asked with a dull tone and deadpan expression.

"H-How?" Mei asked incredulously as she couldn't comprehend how he had gotten the jump on her.

"I can move really, really fast." he immediately responded as if it was the most obvious answer. "But back to you miss Raiden, why have you been following me." he narrowed his red eyes with his arms crossed. Although he didn't pay attention to anyone around him, he already knew her as she was one of the characters from the game.

"I-I wasn't following you." She immediately denied waving her hands in front of her.

Obviously he didn't believe her. "Uh-huh, then what are you doing here on this roof?" he pressed moving his face closer.

"Well... I'm a student and this is part of the school." she weakly replied

"....Shit she's got a point." Wave looked away with a hand on his mouth finding that he was unable to poke a hole in that logic.

"Why are you here Aversis-kun?" she turned it around

"Well I live here."

"On the roof?" she blinked at the response.

Realizing that he didn't want to talk about his current homelessness. "Enough, I'm bored with playing 20 questions. If you'll excuse me, I have an issue to resolve." he waved his hand and walked back to the railing to think about how to resolve his hunger.

Mei was surprised at how easily he was letting her off. She was about to continue leaving, but she was stopped as Wave's stomach began growling again.

*RUMBLE sfx* The sound was loud enough to send vibrations through the ground.

"Um, if you don't mind. Would you like some of my leftovers?" she offered, taking out her unfinished lunch.

Wave immediately snapped his head back to her. However he didn't respond, there was reluctance from not wanting to get involved with other people and distrust as he still suspected her of stalking him. However he was definitely hungry, and food was offered to him.

Not only that, he was a demi-god and technically a commander of an army so he still felt like he should protect the small amount of dignity he had left. "Do you think I'm the type of guy who takes hand-outs!?" Wave spoke with an offended tone as his hands were already stuffing his mouth with the food.

Mei stared at Wave for a moment in silence as audible chewing and munching sound effects became visible in the air. "...Yes?" she said with a questionable tone as she wasn't sure how to respond.

"Well you're exactly right!" He said nodding without shame while stuffing his face.

"...I have chopsticks in there you know."

"Utensils are for the weak!"

"But you're making such a mess..."

and that was how Wave solved his hunger issues.